Gecko’s Grill & Pub — Restaurant in Bradenton

I don't usually respond to other reviews about places, but the recent review by "Aldo Lu" about this Gecko's - more specifically this Gecko's manager - really bothered me. It was full of personal attacks against the manager, Doug, but it didn't include any specifics to back up the general statements. Mr. Lu alluded to one experience "my experience...was terrible. Great server, but absolutely terrible management." He goes on to describe "significant issues with his communication skills". Like what? From ONE experience? "...confusion among staff". Specifics? What happened that caused confusion? "...unfair treatment of employees..." Specifics? What kind of unfair treatment? "...follow out a young lady to her car and she seemed very uncomfortable." Does Mr. Lu know the specifics of this interaction, and what caused him to think the young lady was uncomfortable? Was she crying? Was Doug yelling? If Mr. Lu felt the young lady was uncomfortable, why didn't he step in? "Doug's demeanor can be described as cocky, which negatively impacts the overall work environment." Really? How so? All of this from ONE visit to Gecko's??? The reason I felt a need to respond was because my husband and I have been going to this particular Gecko's since 2011. We have known Doug since that time when he was a bartender there, and we have seen him work his way up through every aspect of service at Gecko's. As a manager, we have watched Doug do anything and everything it takes to keep the restaurant running smoothly and his customers happy; he helps prep food in the kitchen if needed, he runs food, he busses tables, he helps bartend if needed, and most importantly, he troubleshoots EVERYTHING, from unhappy customers to unclogging toilets. Also, since he's been manager, we have seen a number of employees leave and come back for various reasons - college kids coming back during summers and breaks, people leaving and then coming back to this location because of a promotion, coming back after pregnancies....I must ask, if Doug has created such a toxic workplace, why are employees staying, and coming back time and again after leaving? Mr. Aldo Lu seems to have an axe to grind specifically with Doug; I'm not sure of the reason, since I don't know who Mr. Lu is, but for him to cite these general slams with no specifics makes me feel there is a personal vendetta going on here. My only complaint about the restaurant is that one side of the bar area is very cold. Doug and his staff are top notch, and the food is consistently good. I especially like their salads and the...

We frequent this location often. Typically it's good food and decent service. Although I recommend sitting at the bar for lunch. The bartenders are great! This last time not so much. Alot to unload. We went in a Monday night to watch football and eat of course. We were greeted by a very loud bingo caller. Apparently there is also Bingo on Monday nights. He was so loud, our server could hardly hear us order. We ordered drinks right away. Our server came back 3x before we got them. She mentioned at ordering. " We are out of homemade chips". We said fine. I tried to order the Mahi tacos. She cuts me off. Oh.. we are out of Mahi too. Ok. I ordered the gouda and roast beef melt w/ side salad. My husband goes to order a Brisket burger. Ohh we are out of Brisket too. Ok. Fine. He orders chicken. I get my salad within minutes. 30min goes by. We are trying to find our server. She asks if we are ok. I said, just wanted to check on the food. We were polite and not rude. She says. Ya, sorry. That's it. Doesnt say ill go check on it. Nothing. Just walks away. Didn't even ask to refill our drinks. Another server tries to deliver us ribs we didn't order. Still no food. 40min and she brings our order. I now have tator tots with mine that I didn't order, and my husband doesn't have his side. No big deal. I give him mine. The worst part was our food was cold. When I say cold... I mean the cheese was no longer melted..the bread was soggy and roast beef was cold. I tell the server. She says. And I quote " Well, I can have them try and heat it up for you" I ask in the microwave? Ya..hard no She says well ill tell my manager u got your food cold. I said. Fine. No manager comes over. He past us like 5x. No other acknowledgement. No sorry. Nothing. I boxed it up and we left. We were never rude or demanding. I actually thought waiting 40min for 2 meals was being extremely patient. But to only offer to heat it up in the microwave and no other option to make it right?...

Burger Monday at Gecko’s makes me so sad, that if I weren’t weak from completely starving due to waiting 40 minutes for my lunch to arrive (often lukewarm and usually incorrect), I would cry. However, the energy I would expend from shedding tears would leave me with nothing left to drive my car back to work, where I will already be late getting back due to the awful Gecko’s service.

A few months ago, my friends and I vowed to never return to Gecko’s again especially on a Monday due to the horrible service. We were coerced back by the manager who asked us to give Gecko’s another chance. We had a few decent experiences there since, most likely because our meals also included adult beverages. We returned this past Monday for the $5 burger special, leaving disappointed as though let down once again by a friend who always promises “this time will be different, I swear” – long story short, it was terrible.

Once again, a few of the burgers came out wrong. I asked our waitress for to-go boxes since I knew I’d have to eat at least 3/4 of my food back at the office. She came across irritated. When she brought the boxes she dropped them down at our table and kept walking. Another member of our lunch party asked if we could have the checks. She again got irritated and when she brought them, she gave them to each of us in a frustrated manner. Look – I know your job must suck on a Monday, but if you can’t handle the shift, don’t work it!

Listen guys, you are not a fast food restaurant – if you are not good at something, and not good at it repeatedly, it’s probably time to stop trying. Really. If I want a $5 burger I realize that I will get what I pay for – and I should probably go to McDonald’s or Burger King. At least then when I get terrible service it won’t be unexpected…and someone will ask me if I want...